Battle of Manassas
Plains. This battle will always occupy a prominent place in the memory of every
man of the battery. They all expected to find a disorganized mob, that would
disperse at our mere appearance; while, to the general surprise, they not only
were better disciplined, but also better officered than our troops. We started
by two o'clock in the morning, but proceeded very slowly. Passed Centreville
before break-of-day. When the sun rose in all its glory, illuminating the
splendid scenery of the Blue Ridge mountains, though no sun of Austerlitz to
us, we crossed the bridge over the Cub Run. By this time, the report of the
30-pounder Parrott gun belonging to Schenck's command, who had met the enemy,
was heard. Our division turned off to the right, and marched some miles through
dense woodland, to the Warrenton road. Towards ten o'clock, nothing could be
seen of the enemy yet, and the belief found circulation that the enemy had
fallen back. Experience proved that, had we remained at Centreville, the rebel
army would undoubtedly have attacked us; but hearing of our advance they only
had to lay in ambush, ready to receive us. At the aforesaid time, the Second
Rhode Island infantry deployed as skirmishers. We advanced steadily, till
arriving at the Bull Run and Sudley's church, a halt was ordered to rest the
men and the horses. But it should not be; the brave Second R. I. Regiment,
coming up to the enemy, who was concealed in the woods, their situation was
getting critical. The report of cannon and musketry followed in rapid
succession. Our battery, after passing Sudley's church, commenced to trot in
great haste to the place of combat. At this moment Gen. McDowell rode up in
great excitement, shouting to Capt. Reynolds: "Forward with your light
battery." This was entirely needless, as we were going at high speed, for
all were anxious to come to the rescue of our Second regiment. In quick time we
arrived in the open space where the conflict was raging already in its greatest
fury. The guns were unlimbered, with or without command; no matter, it was
done, and never did better music sound to the ears of the Second Regiment, than
the quick reports of our guns, driving back the advancing foe. For nearly forty
minutes our battery and the Second Regiment, defended that ground before any
other troops were brought into action. Then the First Rhode Island, Seventy-first
New York, and Second New Hampshire, with two Dahlgren howitzers, appeared,
forming on the right and left. The enemy was driven successfully in our immediate
front. Our battery opened on one of the enemy's light batteries to our right,
which left after a short but spirited engagement, in a rather demoralized
state. Griffith's, Ayer's and Rickett's batteries coming up, prospects really
looked promising, and victory seemed certain. The rebel line gradually giving
way. Gen. McDowell, seeing the explosion of perhaps a magazine or a caisson,
raised his cap, shouting, "Soldiers, this is the great explosion of
Manassas," and seemed to be highly pleased with the work done by our
battery. Owing to different orders, the battery, towards afternoon, was split
into sections. Capt. Reynolds, with Lieuts. Tompkins and Weeden, off to the
right, while the two pieces of the left section, to the left; Lieuts. Vaughan
and Munroe remaining with the last mentioned. Firing was kept up incessantly,
until the arrival of confederate reinforcements, coming down from Manassas
Junction, unfurling the stars and stripes, whereby our officers were deceived
to such a degree as to give the order, "Cease firing." This cessation
of our artillery fire proved, no doubt, disastrous. It was the turning point of
the battle. Our lines began to waver after receiving the volleys of the
disguised columns. The setting sun found the fragments of our army not only in
full retreat but in a complete rout, leaving most of the artillery in the hands
of the enemy. Our battery happened to be the only six gun volunteer battery,
carrying all the guns off the battle-field, two pieces in a disabled condition.
A battery wagon and forge were lost on the field. Retreating the same road we
advanced on in the morning. All of a sudden the cry arose, “The Black Horse Cavalry
is coming." The alarm proved to be false; yet it had the effect upon many
soldiers to throw away their arms. But the fears of many soldiers that the
enemy would try to cut off our retreat, were partly realized. Our column having
reached Cub Run bridge, was at once furiously attacked on our right by
artillery and cavalry. Unfortunately, the bridge being blocked up, the
confusion increased. All discipline was gone. Here our battery was lost, all
but one gun, that of the second detachment, which was carried through the
creek. It is kept at the armory of the Marine Artillery, in Providence. At the
present time, guns, under such circumstances, would not be left to the enemy
without the most strenuous efforts being made to save them. We assembled at the
very same camp we left in the morning. Credit is due to Capt. Reynolds, for
doing everything possible for the comfort of his men. At midnight the defeated
army took up its retreat towards Washington. Our battery consisting of one gun,
and the six-horse team, drove by Samuel Warden.
Monday, October 30, 2023
Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Sunday, July 21, 1861
Friday, October 6, 2023
Congressman Rutherford B. Hayes to William Henry Smith, May 23, 1867
CINCINNATI, May 23,
1867.
DEAR SIR: Yours of
21st came to hand this morning. My chief personal objection to being a
candidate for governor was removed when the Legislature squarely stood up to
the suffrage issue. My supporters in the Second District are not as willing as
I would wish to let me off. I am therefore waiting. Will General Schenck be a
candidate? I do not wish to run against him.
Keep this letter to
yourself and write me what you know of General Schenck's intentions.
Secretary Of State.
SOURCE: Charles
Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard
Hayes, Volume 3, p. 42-3
William Henry Smith to Congressman Rutherford B. Hayes, between May 23 & 5, 1867
For several weeks
prior to the adjournment of the General Assembly, the question of a candidate
for governor was generally discussed, and it was the opinion of all of the best
men that you were the only one who could carry us safely and triumphantly
through the campaign. It was unanimously conceded that if you would consent to
be a candidate you would be nominated without opposition, and so anxious were
our Western Reserve friends to bring this about, they announced in nearly all
their papers that you would receive their support. A few of your friends, and
among them myself, deprecated this movement because we could not think of
sparing you from Congress, and so through this influence, the thing was
checked. However, these men have waited on us to produce the candidate, and
they are becoming quite uneasy, especially as Washington schemers are involving
the gubernatorial question with that of a candidate for President. Only in this
way, on account of the uncertainty about yourself, has General Schenck's name
been mentioned. Therefore I feel justified in stating that, if it is known that
you will consent to be a candidate, General Schenck will not be.
I shall go down to
Cincinnati Monday night or Tuesday morning. This question must be settled by
the middle of next week, or we shall be inevitably lost.
SOURCE: Charles
Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard
Hayes, Volume 3, p. 43
Saturday, March 4, 2023
Congressman Rutherford B. Hayes to Sardis Birchard, March 2, 1866
WASHINGTON, March 2,
1866.
DEAR UNCLE:— With a
party, Generals Schenck, Crook, Smith, and their ladies, I went to see the
picture of "The Storm in the Rocky Mountains" by [Albert] Bierstadt.
It is very beautiful and wonderful. By gaslight the effect is incomprehensible,
such brilliancy and light and shade! Mr. Bierstadt says it is better by
daylight. I shall see.
R.
We are not quite
sure yet whether Andy is with us or against us—in a party sense, I mean.
Doctrinally, he is against us on many things and with us on a few.
Monday, September 5, 2022
Diary of Congressman Rutherford B. Hayes: December 1, 1865
Members of the House
are entitled to some perquisites: All the back numbers of the Congressional
Globe, a small library of some value; seventy dollars for stationery; fifty
dollars for newspapers for this session, and twenty-four copies of the
Congressional Globe for the Congress of which he is a member.
A caucus of the Ohio
Union delegation held at Mr. Delano's rooms tonight. Present: Ashley, Bingham,
Buckland, Bundy, Clark, Delano, Eggleston, Garfield, Hayes, Hubbell, Lawrence,
Plants, Schenck, Shellabarger, Spalding, and Welker. Absent, Eckley. It was our
first, and a very agreeable and harmonious, meeting. Mr. Delano, chairman,
stated the object to be to consult as to candidates for the offices of the
House of Representatives, and as to matters connected with the organization of
the House. It was agreed to support Mr. Colfax for Speaker and Mr. McPherson
for Clerk, they being the old officers and having no opposition. Much talk
about the candidates for doorkeeper. One, Mr. Hawkins Taylor, seemed to have
many friends. It was, however, stated that he sold out the Chase committee. Mr.
Clark made two or three zealous talks in his favor. Mr. Ashley made some sport
by allusions to the Chase business. Spalding in earnest opposed him on that
account. Schenck talked earnestly and well—evidently the leading man of the
delegation. Spalding talked well also, but was unwilling to be bound by the
action of the delegation until his candidate for postmaster was provided for.
We then all agreed to support Colonel Given for postmaster.
We agreed to oppose
the admission of any delegate from the Rebel States for the present. Ashley is
a large, good-natured, popular style of man-full of good humor. Shellabarger, a
sober, gentlemanly, able man; General Garfield, a smooth, ready, pleasant man,
not very strong; Clark, disposed to talk rather too much; Lawrence, ditto, and
not quite happy in his views; Delano, clear and correct; Hubbell, talky.
Schenck, Delano, Spalding, and Shellabarger, in the order I name them, strike
me, judging by tonight, as the strongest men. Bingham and Ashley said so little
that I can't place them.
General Schenck gave
notice that he would propose an amendment on the first opportunity by which
representation would be based on suffrage. All seemed to acquiesce. On General
Schenck's suggestion I offered the resolution, with educational test or
condition added. Adopted with two negatives, viz., Ashley and Shellabarger.
My old college
friend, R. E. Trowbridge [of Michigan], came bouncing into the caucus in his
old jovial way to welcome me. Very little change in him.
Wednesday, October 13, 2021
Diary of Gideon Welles: Saturday, February 4, 1865
There was yesterday no meeting of the Cabinet. This morning the members
were notified to meet at twelve meridian. All were punctually on hand. The
President with Mr. Seward got home this morning. Both speak of the
interview with the Rebel commissioners as having been pleasant and without
acrimony. Seward did not meet or have interview with them until the President
arrived. No results were obtained, but the discussion will be likely to tend to
peace. In going the President acted from honest sincerity and without
pretension. Perhaps this may have a good effect, and perhaps otherwise. He
thinks he better than any agent can negotiate and arrange. Seward wants to do
this.
For a day or two, the naval appropriation bill has been under
consideration in the House. A combination, of which H. Winter Davis is the
leader, made it the occasion for an onset on the Department and the
Administration. The move was sneaking and disingenuous, very much in character
with Davis, who is unsurpassed for intrigue and has great talents for it. He
moved an amendment, having for its object a Board of Admiralty, which should
control the administration of the Department. The grounds of this argument were
that the Department had committed errors and he wanted a board of naval
officers to prevent it. He presents the British system for our guidance and of
course has full scope to assail and misrepresent whatever has been done. But,
unfortunately for Davis, the English are at this time considering the question
of abandoning their system.
Mr. Rice, Chairman of the Naval Committee, a Boston merchant, is reported
to have made a full and ample and most successful reply to Davis, who was voted
down. I have not doubted the result, but there was a more formidable effort
made than was at first apparent. The Speaker, who is not a fair and ingenuous
man, although he professes to be so, and also to be personally friendly to me,
is strictly factious and in concert with the extremists. In preparation for
this contest he had called General Schenck to the chair. Schenck is one of the
Winter Davis clique, and so far as he dare permit it to be seen, and more
distinctly than he supposes, has the sympathy of Colfax. Stevens, Chairman of
the Ways and Means, is of the same stripe. It is a combination of the radicals
prompted and assisted by Du Pont and Wilkes. Hitherto hating each other, and
invidiously drawing in others, the miserable wretched combinations of
malcontents and intriguers, political and naval, had flattered themselves they
should succeed. But they were voted down. I am told, however, that under the
rulings and management of the hypocritically sanctimonious Speaker the subject
is to be reopened.